U.S. Forest Service · Gifford Pinchot National Forest · Trout Lake, WA

Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF

Forlorn Lakes, one of the most popular campgrounds in the southern part of the forest, offers 25 campsites scattered around the wooded shores of small, picturesque lakes. Swimming and fishing are possible in the larger lakes. Huckleberry bushes grow in the campground and surrounding area making this site very popular during huckleberry season. The campsites at a maximum 18 feet long are suitable for tent camping and small campers or RV's. The day use area has lake views, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground is very popular, the camping spots fill early in the week. Forlorn Lakes offers nearby access to Indian Heaven via the East Crater Trailhead.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-served25 sitesFrom $15 per nightTents only

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Washington · tent only in Washington

Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NFcampsitecampsite 10Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF
Photos courtesy of USFS, oregondave (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
High Lava · 18 mi away · 2,899 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesCamping: Single site: $15/night. Double sites: $30/night. Extra Vehicle: $5/vehicle

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestGifford Pinchot National Forest
FeesCamping: Single site: $15/night. Double sites: $30/night. Extra Vehicle: $5/vehicle
RulesMaximum vehicle length is 18 feet.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.2°F averageFebruary: 34.8°F averageMarch: 39.3°F averageApril: 45.6°F averageMay: 53.7°F averageJune: 59.4°F averageJuly: 66.9°F averageAugust: 66.4°F averageSeptember: 58.8°F averageOctober: 47.5°F averageNovember: 37.5°F averageDecember: 31.1°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Mt Adams RS, 11 miles from the campground at 1,950 feet, station USC00455659 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

From Trout Lake, Washington drive west on Highway 141 to the forest boundary where 141 becomes Forest Road 24. Continue west on Forest Road 24 past Peterson Prairie Campground to the intersection with Forest Road 60. At this intersection continue straight onto Forest Road 60.

Nearest townTrout Lake, Washington
Coordinates45.9589° N, 121.7570° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    High Lava

    18 mi from the campground · 2,899 acres · 95% contained

  • Prescribed
    Tracy Hill Rx

    23 mi from the campground · 28 acres

  • Prescribed
    Top Of The World Rx

    23 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    Grasshopper

    50 mi from the campground · 93,972 acres · 98% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗11.1 mi
Outdoor gearCamping World ↗42.9 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗47.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The campground is very popular, the camping spots fill early in the week. Forlorn Lakes offers nearby access to Indian Heaven via the East Crater Trailhead.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.6 mi
    East Crater
    2.5 mi trail
  • 2.3 mi
    Tombstone Lake
    0.2 mi trail
  • 2.5 mi
    Thomas Lake
    3.3 mi trail
  • 2.8 mi
    Shortcut
    0.8 mi trail
  • 3.4 mi
    6020 Sled ↗
    5.7 mi trail
  • 3.4 mi
    Coyote Sm Loop
    3.5 mi trail

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Forlorn Lakes, one of the most popular campgrounds in the southern part of the forest, offers 25 campsites scattered around the wooded shores of small, picturesque lakes. Swimming and fishing are possible in the larger lakes. Huckleberry bushes grow in the campground and surrounding area making this site very popular during huckleberry season. The campsites at a maximum 18 feet long are suitable for tent camping and small campers or RV's. The day use area has lake views, picnic tables, and fire rings.

Recreation

Forlorn Lakes, one of the most popular campgrounds in the southern part of the forest, offers 25 campsites scattered around the wooded shores of small, picturesque lakes. Swimming and fishing are possible in the larger lakes. Huckleberry bushes grow in the campground and surrounding area making this site very popular during huckleberry season. The campsites at a maximum 18 feet long are suitable for tent camping and small campers or RV's. The day use area has lake views, picnic tables, and fire rings.

Guidebooks for Washington

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Washington
    Ellie Kozlowski, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Washington camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Waterfalls in Washington
    Sawyer Scheer, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF?

No. Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF?

Camping: Single site: $15/night. Double sites: $30/night. Extra Vehicle: $5/vehicle

Source: Forest Service

Is Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF have?

25 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF?

Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What is there to do at Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF?

Forlorn Lakes, one of the most popular campgrounds in the southern part of the forest, offers 25 campsites scattered around the wooded shores of small, picturesque lakes. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF?

Trout Lake, Washington. The campground is very popular, the camping spots fill early in the week.

Source: Getting there

What if Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Goose Lake Campground (1.3 mi, first-come), Trailhead: Crest Camp (4.1 mi, first-come), and Horse Camp: Falls Creek (4.2 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby